Electrophotographic photoreceptor

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an insulating support and provided thereon, a conductive layer, an intermediate layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein said conductive layer has a work function W (eV), said intermediate layer has an ionization potential Ip (eV) and a relationship between the work function W (eV) and the ionization potential Ip (eV) satisfies Formula 1: Ip>W+0.5. Formula 1

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a cylindrical insulating support and provided thereon, a conductive layer, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer, wherein said conductive layer has a work function W (eV), said intermediate layer has an ionization potential Ip (eV) and a relationship between the work function W (eV) and the ionization potential Ip (eV) satisfies Formula 1:   Ip>W+0.5,                                                  Formula 1     wherein said insulating support is a cylindrical insulating support, said insulating support and said conductive layer are prepared by   (1) injecting a conductive ink containing conductive fine particles and a resin into a cylindrical mold,   (2) applying heat to the injected conductive ink while rotating the cylindrical mold to form a cylindrical conductive layer on an inside wall of the cylindrical mold,   (3) injecting a polymerizable material into the cylindrical mold, whereby said polymerizable material is provided on said cylindrical conductive layer, and   (4) applying heat or light to polymerize said polymerizable material while rotating said cylindrical mold to form said cylindrical insulating support on said cylindrical conductive layer.   
     
     
       2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the work function W (eV) and the ionization potential Ip (eV) satisfies Formula 2, provided that said work function W (ev) satisfies Formula 3:   7>Ip>W+0.5,                                                Formula 2       3.5<W<6.0.                                                 Formula 3     
     
     
       3. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the relationship satisfies Formula 4:   7>Ip>W+0.7.                                                Formula 4     
     
     
       4. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said insulating support comprises a compound selected from the group of consisting of polyethylene terephthalate resin, polyethylene naphthalate resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polystyrene resin, polyimide resin, polyvinyl chloride resin and a glass. 
     
     
       5. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer contains a compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, palladium and a metal oxide. 
     
     
       6. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer comprises polyamide resin. 
     
     
       7. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer is prepared by hardening a coating composition containing an organic metal compound or a silane coupling agent. 
     
     
       8. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer has a surface resistivity of not more than 10 8  Ω/square. 
     
     
       9. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said insulating support has a resistivity of not less than 10 10  Ω/square. 
     
     
       10. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said light is ultra-violet rays. 
     
     
       11. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein said polymerizable material is transparent.